Ambassador J. Christoper Stevens received a bachelor's degree in history from UC Berkeley in 1982. He immediately joined the Peace Corps, which took him to Morocco. This experience sparked in him an abiding passion for the Middle East, leading to his career in the US Foreign Service and postings in several Middle Eastern countries.
On September 11, 2013, the family and friends of Ambassador Stevens announced the creation of The Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens Memorial Fund for Middle Eastern Studies to honor the memory of Ambassador Stevens, who died in Libya on Sept. 11, 2012. The fund is dedicated to deepening and extending knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in the areas of culture, language, politics, and history. The fund will support research and travel by graduate and undergraduate students who demonstrate a high level of distinction in the study of the Middle Eastern and North Africa.
Stevens Programs
For testimonails from student participants in Stevens programs, click here.
Stevens Scholars Project
The Stevens Scholars Project supports research and travel by UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students who demonstrate a high level of distinction in the study of the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in the areas of culture, language, politics, and history. Since 2015, it has enabled dozens of students to travel to countries in the region to conduct research and study. From studying the limited water resources in Jordan to exploring the connections between Islam, feminism, and family law, Stevens scholars have gained invaluable experience. This project is made possible by The Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens Memorial Fund for Middle Eastern Studies.
Complete application details for the scholarship are available here.
Stevens Initiative Global Ambassadors Project
The J. Christopher Stevens Global Ambassadors Project is an innovative series of virtual exchanges, which between 2016 and 2018 provided an opportunity for UC Berkeley students to interact with a diverse group of peers at institutions in the Middle East and North Africa. Funded by the Stevens Initiative—a multilateral public-private partnership housed at the Aspen Institute and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State—the project strives to encourage cross-cultural understanding, giving students a chance to learn in a diverse and engaging environment while equipping them with the tools they need to communicate and cooperate with confidence in the twenty first century. Over the three-year period of funding, it provided more than 200 UC Berkeley students opportunities to engage with nearly 230 students across the Middle East and North Africa.
For more information about this past program, click here.